Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains are a French-British pop group combining indie pop and folk pop.
History The band is led by French musician François Marry, who has also been a touring member of Camera Obscura. Other members also play in Petit Fantôme, Jaune!, Archipel and Babe.Brown, Ally (2012) "Fence Records Presents... The Away Game 2012, Isle of Eigg, 20–22 July", The Skinny, 25 July 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012 After growing up in Saintes, and studying at La Rochelle, Marry relocated to Bristol in 2003. He lived in the city for six years.Richard, Robert (2009) "Frànçois & The Atlas Mountains – Plaine inondable", Les Inrockuptibles, 25 September 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2012Médioni, Gilles (2011) "La pop minimaliste de Frànçois and the Atlas Mountains", L'Express, 20 April 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2012
The band's first album was the mostly live The People to Forget, released in 2006 on Bristol's micro label Stitch-Stitch.
The band's second album, Plaine Inondable, was released in 2009 on Fence Records in the UK and on Talitres in France to critical acclaim, receiving a four star review from The Scotsman."Plaine Inondable Review", The Scotsman, 6 December 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2012
The band's third album, E Volo Love, was released in 2012 on Domino recordings, and was also positively received, with The Skinny writer Chris Buckle giving it four stars out of five and describing it as "unabashedly romantic...a study in understatement delivered with finesse", and Simon Price in The Independent describing it as "gentle indie-pop jangle with echoes of Afropop".Buckle, Chris (2012) "Francois & The Atlas Mountains – E Volo Love", The Skinny, 5 January 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012Price, Simon (2012) "Album: Frànçois and the Atlas Mountains, E Volo Love (Domino)", The Independent, 22 January 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012 The album received a 7/10 rating from the NME.Snapes, Laura (2012) "Francois And The Atlas Mountains – 'E Volo Love'", NME, 20 January 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012
Marry has also released several lo-fi tapes and records.
Musical style Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains: "Il faut sortir de sa bulle"", L'Express, 22 March 2017Murray, Robin (2012) "Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains October Shows", Clash, 12 June 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012Nuc, Olivier (2012) "Frànçois & The Atlas Mountain au Café de la danse", Le Figaro, 6 February 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012Capper, Andy (2012) "This week's new singles", The Guardian, 21 January 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012 Marry's vocals have been described as "appealingly weedy", with a comparison made to Peter Perrett.
Discography
Albums The People To Forget (2006), Stitch-Stitch Plaine Inondable (2009), Fence/Talitres E Volo Love (2012), Domino Piano Ombre (2014), Domino Solide Mirage (2017), Domino Fleurs du Mal (as Frànçois Atlas) (2018), Seline Banane Bleue (2021), Domino Âge Fleuve (2025), InFiné
EPs Brother (2007), Lejos Discos Her River Raves Recollections (2009), Stitch-Stitch "L'Homme Tranquille" (2015), Domino
Singles "Piscine" (2011), Domino "Les Plus Beaux" (2012), Domino "Gold Mountain" (2012), Domino – split single with Slow Club, released for Record Store Day "Edge of Town" (2012), Domino
Frànçois solo/other releases
Albums Frànçois et Luc – Quatre Pistes (2003), CD-R, split with Luc Les Anciennes Falaises (2004), Stitch-Stitch (CD-R) Sleeping states/Frànçois (2006), Undereducated – split cassette The Autoroute tapes (2004), Stitch-Stitch – cassette, limited to 20 copies The Nympheas tapes (2015), Iwillplaythissongonceagain – cassette, limited to 7 copies Oblique Imàge (2017), Another Record – cassette, limited to 150 copies
EPs Forests Songs (2006), Stitch-Stitch – split with Ray Rumours
Singles "Swimmers, Drifters" (2008), Too Pure Singles Club – split with Ray Rumours
References
External links